Rats and wiring harness, how to avoid critter meltdown

Discussion in 'Raptor Maintenance' started by Chris Mac, Jan 8, 2020.

Car Parts
  1. Chris Mac

    Chris Mac Member

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    So i left my truck in front of the house on the street over Thanksgiving....a few days of not driving...went to start it and all the bells and whistles went off. Full limp mode.....Towed it to Marin County Ford.....Rats chewed my darn wiring HARNESS......total meltdown, $6k and 6 weeks later my truck is back together...they have to take the interior out and bunch of engine stuff....total nightmare.....

    The tech said it is becoming more and more common...even worse in Toyotas.....he said the best thing to do is to get those green rat cubes from Home Depot and zip ty them all over your engine compartment....take a look a few months later and there will be little naw marks....

    I guess they are using some type of Soy in the harness and the rodents like the taste!
     
  2. cougarmandan

    cougarmandan New Member

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    A friend my mine bought a few Acura a few years ago and had the same issue. The wiring insulation is made from soy beans and smells like Cracker Barrel to rodents. Acura revised their formula to include capsaicin (the stuff in pepper spray) to discourage the feasting, however, they wound up replacing the engine harness 3 times in it. The last time, the mechanic wrapped it up with some metal mesh tape as I recall.
     
  3. Wes Skaperdas

    Wes Skaperdas Member

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    Squirrels got mine, only this time it was the gas line at the top of the tank. $700. Years ago, they got the plug wires on my old Merc Sable and ALL the wires in my riding mower. Back then, I planted mothballs in every crevice I could find . . . which seemed to work . . . but not sure I want my Raptor to emanate that particular aroma.
     

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